Staphylea colchica

Planted: 1911

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This shrub can be found on the west side of the Philadelphus Walk.

Distribution:	Native of south west Caucasus – small concentration in China. Not widely planted.
Planting Date:	March 1911 – planted in Mr Hammond’s garden. Transplanted in the Philadelphus Walk in 1926. Purchased from Plowman and Son, High Street, and Lubenham Hill, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Growth Habit:	Strong growing shrub with erect branches to 2.5 m to 3.6 m high
Bark:	Narrowly striped gold and green.
Leaf:	Opposite, in pairs of oblong to elliptic leaflets 3 to 5 finely toothed, smooth surface but slightly hairy beneath.
Flowers:	Drooping panicles of bell shaped white flowers appearing on 2nd year wood in late spring before leaves open.
Fruit:	Double chambered inflated capsules becoming dry and stiffly papery. About 5 cm long. Seeds shiny yellow to brown.
Potential tree size:	3 m
Uses:	No information
Plant Hunter:	No information
Introduction Date:	1850, Veitch Nurseries, Exeter, Devon
Anecdotes and Comments:	Not widely planted despite receiving a First Class Certificate in 1879 from the Royal Horticultural Society.